Summary
On March 20, 2022, a Cessna 172N (N6332D) was involved in an incident near Talkeetna, AK. All 4 people aboard were uninjured. The aircraft sustained substantial damage.
The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of this incident to be: The pilot’s improper positioning of the fuel selector during takeoff, which resulted in fuel starvation and a subsequent total loss of engine power.
On March 19, 2022, about 1935 Alaska daylight time, a Cessna 172N airplane, N6332D, sustained substantial damage when it was involved in an accident near Talkeetna, Alaska. The pilot and three passengers were not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight.
The pilot reported that the airplane had 20 gallons of fuel onboard before takeoff. The pilot reported that, after takeoff, when the airplane was about 150 to 200 ft above ground level, the engine lost total power. The pilot made an emergency landing to a snow-covered field. Upon touchdown, the nosewheel separated and the airplane nosed over, resulting in substantial damage to the wings and vertical stabilizer.
This incident is documented in NTSB report ANC22LA024. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N6332D.
Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
The pilot’s improper positioning of the fuel selector during takeoff, which resulted in fuel starvation and a subsequent total loss of engine power.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Current)
Analysis
On March 19, 2022, about 1935 Alaska daylight time, a Cessna 172N airplane, N6332D, sustained substantial damage when it was involved in an accident near Talkeetna, Alaska. The pilot and three passengers were not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight.
The pilot reported that the airplane had 20 gallons of fuel onboard before takeoff. The pilot reported that, after takeoff, when the airplane was about 150 to 200 ft above ground level, the engine lost total power. The pilot made an emergency landing to a snow-covered field. Upon touchdown, the nosewheel separated and the airplane nosed over, resulting in substantial damage to the wings and vertical stabilizer.
Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the fuel selector was in the left fuel tank position. The pilot reported that the airplane had 20 gallons of fuel onboard. About 3 gallons of fuel were drained from the left tank, and 13 gallons were drained from the right fuel tank. Each tank had an unusable fuel quantity of 1.5 gallons. The Cessna Pilot’s Operating Handbook required the fuel selector handle to be in the “both” position for takeoffs and landings. Examination of the engine revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that would have precluded normal operation of the engine.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# ANC22LA024